I ride a original Arbor S-series 162 made with a walnut center,two maple stringers and Hawaiian Koa wood rails this is a real get up and go kick ass board that will handle anything you put in front of it as far as on edge fast aggressive rail to rail riding say no more, serious carves that will not let go. This is a great board for back country and free riding not for the unaggressive. I hear that the Arbor A frame offers the same type of ride if it does don't let the price hold you back buy one it will be money well spent

Extremely agile, very fast and stable. Easy to ride in any conditions. Classic, Sexy Looks

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Arbor A Frame 162 Splendid

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K2 electra, Lib Tech Emigator, Salmon Freeride

Dampness and flex eat up any surface irregularities. Graphite base is extremely quick and tough - I've taken this bad boy over rocks, in the trees and it has held up very well.

Only weakness that I can think of is purely cosmetic. Wood topsheet is a bit soft and you'll cry like a baby when someone slaps an edge on it in the lift line. Unless it's scraped though, however, repair is easy with a little water-based polyurethane varnish (recommended by Arbor).

Board immediately improved riding style. Holds crazy edge, devoures everything I've put in its path - ice, crud, pow - you name it. Takes power and concentration to master, this board definitely needs to be ridden hard or it's not happy. Stiff flex, very damp board without sacrificing feel. Would definitely recommend this board to other freeriders. Not for use in the pipe due to stiff flex but can handle the park.

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Lib Tech Jamie Lynn 156 (noodled out after 1 season) for freestyle, Never Summer Premier.

dood egde. wery fast, stable at speed, good powder board

to much pop

size 170 My first time on this board was on doubleblack and all there was ice. the board felt soft but held asome edge WOW i was suprised. I was able to pull away from all my buddies.

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m3162. burton ripy 160,ride 162.

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5''11 175, demo''d a shop tuned nearly new 166 w/ T-9 Dominators at Beaver Creek 12/16/2001, 3 inches new on variable base and terrain. GRRRRRRR! Friends remarked that this board gave me elephantitis of the cajones and cabeeza. This board is extremely stiff, very damp, very stable and held it''s edge further than my ability or the conditions would permit. This board is not for the weak legged or minded, you cannot take a run or a even a turn off. I would not take this board into the park or pipe, not that I''d go anyways, and there are much quicker sticks for trees. What this board will do is fly, literally sure, but figuratively, wow, speed man, lots of it, go real real fast stuck to the mountain. My first impression was that the board was limited to harder smoother surfaces, long straight-line turns and probably deep powder (none available.) My second and third impressions were that the board is not limited at all, but that I was. I made the commitment to ride like a gorilla (most boards are over-riden and crumble if treated like that) and was rewarded - unparalleled confidence, all mountain any condition. For me the S-Series is the real deal, this board offers the ride that every board, boot and binding manufacturer talks about when describing their top of the line (read: most expensive) products. Don''t buy this board if you are not willing to be on it all the time, input = output. Be sure that you have a top of the line binding and boot, I doubt that this stick would be ridable with a step in system. This is a glowing review but it is also a warning: If you do not work to keep this Howitzer from becoming bored it may decide to turn the tables and ride you! I have no idea about the durability of this board but I am willing to find out. Remember this always: This time next year you will not remember the extra $100 bucks or 1/4 or whatever, but you will remember everytime you had a gut check and your stick had your back.

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Similar Products Used:

Salomon 550/59 (many disagreements on how mountains should be riden), LibTech Emmagator 54? (great learner, very quick, multiple delaminations), Burton Supermodel (I don''t like noodles, everyone else